LANSING, MI - A state lawmaker from Detroit says changes should be made to how the state enters into consent agreements with financially troubled cities.
Rep. Thomas Stallworth III, D-Detroit, detailed his plan at the state Capitol on Wednesday – shortly before a lawsuit challenging the Detroit consent agreement reached with Michigan officials was dismissed by an Ingham County judge.
Stallworth said the process related to consent agreements needs more accountability, direction and standards. He said his plan has Democratic supporters, but he hasn’t lined up support from Republicans, who hold the majority in the state House.
Stallworth said his plan would introduce regulations to help make sure that cities getting consent agreements in the future won’t face the challenges that Detroit has faced. He said it is possible features of his plan could be used in the Detroit situation.
Among other provisions, Stallworth said consent agreements would have statements that more clearly define in measurable terms the reason a local government is in financial trouble. Agreements also would have more specific preliminary plans for fixing a city’s financial troubles. Stallworth said the current system allows consent agreements that are too vague, reached only to avoid harsher measures such as the appointment of an emergency manager.
"If the current process was working then the law regulating consent agreements wouldn't be in our state's judicial system," Stalllworth said in a statement.
At a press conference, Stallworth said: “The way the process has been handled thus far is akin to the Titanic sinking while we continuously argue over where the chairs on the deck should be located.”
(Source)
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